The Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project under the Kaligandaki corridor has seen 80 percent of physical progress in eight years.

The road infrastructure connecting Triveni along Nepal-India border with China's Korala border point is considered the 'fate line' of Gandaki Province and is important for infrastructure, economic, trade, hydropower, tourism and religious development.

The project started in 2073 BS to upgrade the 202-km road from Maldhunga (Parbat) to Korala border point (Mustang) via Myagdi and construct bridges over the rivulets along the road.

Project Chief Dhruba Kumar Jha said that the physical progress of the project till the mid second week of June was 80 percent.

The road, estimated to cost Rs 10 billion, was targeted to be completed in the fiscal year 2079/80 BS. The project period was extended till the fiscal year 2082/83 BS when the targeted works could not be completed within the stipulated time.

According to project chief Jha, Rs 6 billion has been spent so far against the contract of Rs 7 billion for the construction of roads and bridges. "Out of the target of blacktopping 105 kilometers, 48 kms of road has been blacktopped, five kilometers have been cemented and gravelling has been done along 85 kilometers of the road," he said.

Among 24 motorable bridges to be constructed along the road, contracts have been awarded for 19 bridges, he shared. "Construction of 10 bridges has been completed, five are in progress," he said. He further added that contracts for four bridges have been terminated while contracts are yet to be signed for five bridges.